Rail joint



July 24-, 1928., 1,678,391

J. M. HUFFT RAIL JOINT Filed July 17, 1925 W A ESSES gnumlko'c i datented July 24, 192%.

JOHN MLEUFF'E, OF TUCSON, ARIZONA.

RAIL JOINT.

Application filed-$11137 l7, 1925. Serial No. 44,269.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvementsin rail joints and has more particular reference to an improvement of rail joints of thattypc wherein pro- 6 vision is made for permitting expansion and contraction of the joined rail sections.

When the adjacent ends of rail sections are so joined and formed that the tread portions thereof are normally spaced apart but 10 may come together when the rail sections expand, constant pounding of the wheels of rolling stock results in distortion or mutilation of the ends of the tread portions of the rail sections so as to produce projections on 16 the latter which resist proper expansion of the rail sections and which are often spread when the rail sections expand to presentirregularities on the tread surfaces of the rail sections. These irregularities cause serious pounding and jolting when the wheels of the rolling stock pass'thereover, and in some cases cause derailing of the rolling stock,

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a rail joint wherein the adjacent ends of the rail sections to be joined are so formed as to prevent the tread portions of the rail sections from coming together and to accordingly prevent the projections so produced thereon from resisting the expansion of the rail sections and becoming spread to produce the objectionable irregularities.

Another object is'to provide a rail joint of the above character which is extremely simple and durable in construction.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the adjacent ends of a pair of rail sections joined in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially upon line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspeciive vie; of an end portion of one of the rail sections shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially upon line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring more in detail to thedrawing, 5 and 6 indicate the aligned adjacent rail sections, the adjacent ends of which are to be joined. In accordance with the present inventlon the ad acent ends of the rail sections 5 and 6 are formed as shown with respect wlth one of the same in Figure 3 so that the web and base 8 of each rail section pro ect slightly beyond the tread portion 9 thereof and so that the end edges of the portions 7 and Sprovide a flat vertical surface while the end edge of the tread portion 9 also forms a flat vertical surface. It will thus be seen that when the rail sections 5 and 6 are disposed in end to end relation the end edges of the web and base portions 7 and 8 of said rail sections will come together when said rail sections expand but the adjacent edges of the tread portions 9 will be maintained in slightly spaced relation; Thus when the rail sections expand, the. end edges of the webs and bases thereof may come together, but the ends of the tread portions will be maintained thereby in spaced relation, and any ordinary projectrons produced on the ends of the tread portlons, by pounding of the wheels of rolling stock thereon, will not interfere with the expanslon of the rail sections, and will not be spread by the treads coming together, so that the objectionable irregularities will not ,be produced. The fact that the web and base portions of the rail sections only project slightly beyond the tread portions results in the production of a space between the tread portions which is so narrow as to not have a serious pounding eifect when the wheels of the rolling stock pass thereover. Furthermore, by reason of the space between the adjacent ends of the tread portions of the rail sections, oiling of the rail joints is facilitated.

For joining the rail sections 5 and 6 to permit their relative expansion and contraction, similar fish plates 10 are placed against opposite sides of the web portions? of the rail sections 5 and 6 and securely held in place by means of pairs of bolts 11 having 101' nuts 12 .threaded thereon. The pair of bolts at one side of the joint extend through circular openings in the web of one rail section and in the adjacent ends of the fish plates 10, while the bolts at the other side of the joint extend through circular openings in the web of the other rail section but through horizontally elongated slots 13 in the other ends of the fish plates lOso that relative movement between the rail sections 5 and 6 in a direction longitudinally of the latter is permitted. From the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a rail joint, a pair of meeting rail sections having their adjacent ends formed with the Web and base portions thereof pr'ojecting slightly beyond the tread portions of the same, and means connecting the adjacent ends of said rail sections for permitting relative longitudinal movement of the same.

2. In a rail joint, a pair of meeting rail sections having their adjacent ends formed with the web and base portions thereof pro jecting slightly beyond the tread portions of the same, and means connecting the adjacent ends of said rail sections for permitting relative longitudinal movement of the same, the end edges of the web and base portions of each rail section providing fiat vertical surfaces and the end edge of the tread portion of each rail section providing a flat vertical surface.

3. In a rail joint, a pair of meeting rail sections having their adjacent ends formed with the web and base ortions thereof projecting slightly beyond the tread portions newest of the same, and means connecting the ad jacent ends of said rail sections for permit ting relative longitudinal movement of the same, the end edges or" said web and base portions of the rail sections being adapted to lie in contiguous relation for preventing the tread portions of the rail sections from coming together.

a. A traction rail comprising a conventional base, web and ball portion, which ball portion is slightly cut away at a rail end so that when positioned adjacent a companion rail ball there is present a permanently open space between the rail balls so that frictional contact thereof is eliminated in vertical movement of a rail due to traction thereover whereby chipping of the rail top surface with a consequent battered end is prevented.

5. In combination, traction rails each comprising a conventional base, web and traction portion, which traction portion is slightly cut away at a rail end to provide clearance leaving the base and web intact to effect the usual rail joint and conventional means for securing said rails together, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. 6. In combination, traction rails each comprising a conventional base, web and ball portion, which ball portion is slightly cut away at a rail end to provide clearance, leaving the base and web intact to effect the usual rail joint, a rail having a cut ball portion being opposed to the cut end of a rail and a conventional fish plate for securing said rails together.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN M. HUFFT. 

